reminds of of the numerous times every day that someone will load their trailer, whether it be a tractor, lawn mower, car, truck, boat, whatever...and not put a tie down one on it. I follwed a guy once almost 40 miles, had a commerical lawn mower on his trailer, rear tires hanging off of the trailer and the whole mower just about ready to fall off. I tried my best to stop him an finally gave up trying. It finally came off. Totally destroyed it. $15,000 lawn mower and $20 worth of tie downs would have saved it.

Then there's those who'll just throw a strap across the front of it and call it good. Better than nothing. But just as important as tying down the front, is tying down the rear. Think about it. In a panic stop, with nothing holding the rear, it will try to go forwards. I've seen a flat bottom impaled into the back window of a Toyota pickup, no rear tie downs, driver had to stop quick to avoid a car in front of him. Boat broke the front tie down and went right up over the bow roller and into the back of the truck. Guy was lucky to be alive.

And then on your bow roller. The boat's bow eye goes under the bottom of the roller, run the strap and hook under the roller to the eye. This way in a panic stop, it's not as likely to ride up and over. And it won't if it's tied down in the back like it should be.

Just yesterday on the ramp: guy backs 4X8 utility trailer into the water and drives jet ski up on flat plywood floor. No tie down, no back gate, nothing. Puts truck in gear, pulls 5 ft up the ramp, and shifts into second gear leaving jet ski sliding/bouncing back down the ramp. He pulls up the ramp and into the parking lot before realizing something was wrong. The walk of shame back to the PWC was not a pretty sight to see. I wanted to laugh but memories of dumb moves that I've made in the past myself kind of ruined that for me.

Brings up the need for a safety chain in front. I've seen $$$$ boats being hauled with nothing more than the strap holding the bow eye.

The ONLY thing that is keeping that strap on tight is a 1/2 inch piece of metal called a Pawl (inside of the winch). With all of the weight; wind resistance and strain of a boat travelling 70 mph down the road, these guys are relying on that Pawl (and/or the strap) to never let go.

On occasion, I've bought boats far from home. I immediately stopped at a hardware store and bought a piece of chain and a hook and made a safety chain. I wouldn't drive two miles without one.

About a year ago I had been on the water all day. I was tired, hot and hungry and got back to the ramp around dusk. While loading my boat the trailer tongue, which had seen way too much saltwater, broke almost totally off. I remembered I had paid Sea Tow an extra $20 for road service and after waiting two hours the flatbed gets there. I had the winch strap and safety chain on the bow with 2 tie downs on the stern. The driver put a hook on the trailer frame, winched it onto the bed and put two tie down chains on the rear of the frame. Good to go ... or so I thought. By now it's around 10 pm and I'm really tired, hot and hungry and I think the driver was also because we both failed to realize the bow was not very secure due to the tongue that was ready to fall off. By the time we got to the boat yard all the tie downs on the boat were ready to fall off and the boat had shifted a foot to one side. Luckily we only had to go 5 miles or I would have been included in that video !

Truthfully, I haven't been attaching the rear straps when I go a few miles between these little lakes. After seeing some of the pictures, I am convinced that going 200 yards without stern tie-downs is foolish.

My summer place is surrounded by the Catoosa National Wildlife area. Deer are everywhere. If one jumped across the road, and I hit the brakes...I might be in the next video, too. richg99

OK...Upon reflection, and thinking of some of the pictures of boats impaling their tow vehicles after a quick stop...I bought these Spring-Loaded retractable tie downs this afternoon. What is another $40.00 bucks to protect my van, boat and my life???

If I make it very easy, I know that I will put them on every time I pull the tinny.

I use ratcheting 2" straps on the back. When I take them off to launch I put them on the front drivers seat. If I'm sitting on them I will remember I didn't put them on! I usually just crank the bow up to the stop and call it good. Rich brings up a good point about the pawl on the winch. BTW mine is kinda rusty and is my next project. I do have a safety chain at the bow which will now be used all the time.That video was probably entertaining to folks that don't tow but for us boat guys it is cringe worthy. As a guy that has towed campers and boats I have always considered myself to be picky about being safe. This reminds me to pay as much attention to what I'm towing and not just how I'm hooking it up.

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